Precision Rail Positioning Starts Here: Bohr's RTK System for Today's Rail Demands
By Dillon Steen, Product Manager, Bohr Electronics
Do you know exactly where your equipment is on your tracks? In modern rail environments, "close" isn't good enough. Whether you're managing mainline locomotives or maintaining wayside assets, knowing the precise location of your rolling stock is critical to safety, efficiency, and compliance. Bohr Electronics' new Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) System, part of our Central Railway Manufacturing (CRM) product line, delivers centimeterlevel accuracy—providing the confidence to say your train isn't just "near the signal," it's at the beginning of this sentence, not the end of it.
Built for Rail: Fully Integrated, Field-Proven RTK
While RTK technology is well established in fields like surveying and agriculture, Bohr is the first to offer a modular, rail-specific RTK solution—bundled for rapid deployment and optimized for both freight and transit applications.
Bohr's RTK System includes:
RTK Base Station (F3552) A GNSS reference receiver providing real-time correction data over Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks. It supports NTRIP casters (like SNIP®) and ensures high availability and redundancy for distributed rail environments.
PNM/OBN Onboard Module (F3626-24 or -74) A precision navigation and onboard networking unit mounted on rail assets. Equipped with survey-grade GNSS, inertial measurement unit (IMU) backup, and support for AAR S-9102 and S-9103 protocols, it delivers exact position and timing data across your onboard Ethernet network.
GNSS and Radio Antennas Optimized for consistent satellite and correction signal reception—even in GPS-challenged environments like tunnels, railyards, and dense urban corridors. These antennas support GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou constellations for maximum resilience.
Why Accuracy Matters More Than Ever
As track density increases and regulatory standards evolve, the need for high-precision rail positioning is no longer optional. Bohr's RTK System empowers rail operators with:
- Centimeter-level location accuracy vs. meter-scale error from traditional GPS
- Enhanced signal and switch integration, enabling exact train location relative to wayside infrastructure
- Predictive maintenance precision, down to the specific crosstie, frog, or insulated joint
- Dynamic geofencing, allowing for automated enforcement of speed zones and access limits
- Improved safety and throughput, supporting reduced headways and tighter operating envelopes
- Inertial backup allows position interpolation during temporary GNSS signal loss.
Engineered for the Realities of Rail Operations
Unlike generic GNSS setups, the Bohr RTK System is built for harsh rail environments. The PNM/OBN is available in both 24V and 74V configurations, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of rolling stock. Onboard edge processing reduces latency and offloads backhaul networks—delivering fast, reliable data where and when it's needed most.
With full integration into the CRM Enabling Technologies platform, the system supports advanced applications including:
- Precision automated train tracking
- High-resolution asset geolocation
- Real-time alerts and condition-based maintenance
- Seamless integration with dispatch, SCADA, and PTC systems
Dive Deeper into RTK for Rail
If you're ready to upgrade from approximate to exact, Bohr's RTK System offers the precision, resilience, and integration that today's rail operations demand.
Have questions or ready to deploy? Contact us at sales@bohr.com.